Rouen, France

Today we started another big adventure to northern France. This would be our fourth time to this amazing country, but this time we are actually driving down and taking the Eurotunnel Train out of Folkestone. Since we just bearly made our ferry out of Dover we thought we'd get to Folkestone plenty early. We didn't intend to get there a whole hour early but it gave the kids some time to play and run about to break up our 5 1/2 hours of driving today.

The Eurotunnel train was AWESOME! It was so much faster to board and definitely much quicker to cross (only 30 minutes compared to the 1 1/2 hours on the ferry). You drive your car right onto the train and then you roll down the windows and ride along. We enjoyed our packed lunch while we rode along.

Now I had taken over driving for Kevin just outside of Stanstead and was still in the driver's seat when we got out off the train in Calais, France (he was still seriously jet lagged after being in the States all last week). So as I drove off it was okay, until we got to the first round about and then everything felt totally wrong! I have become so used to driving on the left side of the road in my right side drive car and now to be on the right side with my car was so confusing to my subconscious. I had to focus really hard and it took me a good half hour before I could muster up the courage to go the 120 km/hr speed limit (80 mph) on the motorways. I got pretty confident again but then we hit the city streets of Rouen (our first stop). With the help of "Jane" and Kevin I was able to find us a car park in the city centre without bumping into anyone or anything.

Rouen is the historic capital of Normandy and loaded with amazing stories. Once Anglo-Saxon capital of France and England it was also the famous site where Joan of Arc was burnt at the stake. The commanding skyline attraction is the Notre Dame Cathedral so that is what we checked out first. One of the most famous French artists, Claude Monet, was inspired so much by this ornate building that he painted pictures of it almost 30 times!

The cathedral is free to go into and it was by far one of the most amazing cathedrals we've seen (and we've seen a lot by now.) One cool thing was the line up of stone statues of all the saints.

This is the tomb that contains the heart of King Richard "The Lionheart."

Lately in any churches or cathedrals that we visit the kids are keen on lighting a candle. I know it is just the fact of getting to light them that sparks their interest but we make a point to say a little prayer together as a family after lighting it to thank God for the opportunity to be in the place that we are in.

The streets of central Rouen are just amazing to look at as they are narrow and filled bordered with buildings that lean to and fro. Rouen was heavily bombed in the Second World War so many of the now timbered buildings have been rebuilt, but it still feels like you are in medieval times.

The Gros Horloge is a 16th century clock that arches across Gros Horloge street which is filled with loads of high street shops. This astronomical clock has two faces that indicate the phases of the moon and the days of the week.

Walking along we came to the Tour Jeanne d'Arc where Joan of Arc was brought in 1431.

The kids are sitting in the very spot where this amazing woman was tortured for her religious beliefs. History books say that Joan, a peasant girl, received visions at a very young age, 14, that she as to lead the French army against the English rule at the end of the Hundred Year's War. She convinced the army to let her lead troops into battle which they were victorious and lead to Charles the VII to take over the crown. She was captured and sold the the English who tried her and burnt her at the stake. They made sure that now remains left as to not let any part of her exist. Several years later the pope found her innocent and she was considered a martyr and named one of the patron saints of France. Here are the kids next to the modern day Place du Vieux Marché (Joan of Arc church) errected at the site at which she was killed.

Walking by the Palais de Justice was haunting as they left walls standing that had sustained much damage from attacks during World War II on D-Day.

Of course no day would be complete without some ice cream and this again was some of the best strawberry ice cream I've ever had and I don't like strawberry ice cream.

We took a walk back past the cathedral to check out some other interesting points. On the corner piece of the Église St.-Maclou is a peculiar little fountain with two little boys peeing and a big face with water spitting out. The kids thought it was pretty funny.

Just down from that church was Aître St.-Maclou which is a curiously decorated cemetery dating from the Great Plague in the 14th century. It doesn't look at all like a cemetery today, but more like a hang out for really artsy people.

But if you look closer at the carvings on the timbers there are signs that death was in this place very long ago. See all the skeletons, cross bones and weapons displayed.

Before we left I had to take quick picture of the public toilets. Almost all public toilets in France seem to be pay toilets, so you need to have your change ready. I just think it was funny that they were under ground.

We then drove on to Caen where our next two nights' stay would be as we explored the beaches of Normandy and World War II's D-Day. We had a little kitchenette in our room so I had brought along things to make us a nice spaghetti dinner which we quite enjoyed!!!

Mystery Rash???

After dinner today, I went to lift Harry's shirt off of him since he made a total mess of it as usual. But I got quite a shock with this time around. Harrison had somehow over the past hour break out with this horrendous looking rash. I ran over to get Debbie our friend who happens to be a cardiac nurse but she's a nurse. She reassured me that it wasn't a meningitis rash so not to worry about that and then we ran down through a list of ideas that it could be an allergic reaction. We don't know for sure what triggered it as he didn't eat anything differently than he had in the past and we did change laundry detergent (as Kevin found some new stuff on sale - Non-Bio) but he had been wearing things that had been washed in it before. The only thing I can think of is that he did have some seafood sticks/imitation crab but he's eaten them before with no problem.

I did bring him to the GP the next morning and it subsided a little bit but it took a good 24 hours to go completely away. The GP couldn't tell me anything other than it looked like an allergic reaction, but since it wasn't severe enough that they couldn't test for anything. Guess we need to just watch a little closer what he eats the next time it happens (hopefully not soon).

Summer Slip Slidding

It was another HOT day in England (25 C, so that's about 77 F) and while we have some summery days we have to take advantage of them. Danny and Min had left us a little slip and slide so I broke that out today and the kids had a blast and I got my back garden watered!!!

Addison found a little friend in the garden - a snail. She is just so fascinated with them.

Pizza Party

Tonight I treated Addison to a little pizza party with her friend Madeline. In the whole process, I treated Bill and Emily to a night out with free babysitting as a birthday present to Emily. I thought the two of them should enjoy at least one last night together in England before they moved home. The kids had a great time helping me create the pizza and mostly getting to eat it. After dinner we enjoyed a movie while sitting on a massive pile of pillows and blankets in the living room.

Paddling in the Pool at Central Park

Probably one of the greatest days we've had all week was visiting Peterborough's Central Park. The weather was amazing and it was actually warm enough that the paddling pool was the perfect cool down fun we needed. Molly and Lauren met us for a play at the big playground then we found some shade for our big picnic. All three kiddos with their Oreo crumb faces!!!

Addison and Harry in the paddling pool. Harrison was dead set against getting in the pool and cried horribly when I tried touching his toes in the water, but by the end of the day we couldn't get him out.

There is also a big sand pit not too far from the little pool so the kids went back and forth and one trip back to the water I caught Harry with what looked like a smiley face on his bum made of sand. Totally a Forrest Gump moment!!!

We had a great time playing with Molly and Lauren, but we did learn to be a little more alert for the next time we ventured out to the park. As I was bringing Harrison up to the pool to clean the sand off of him, I noticed a lady giving her daughter a drink from a can and then turn around and put it back on MY pushchair!!!! Yes, this lady took my drink off of my stroller, gave her daughter a drink and then put it back on the stroller. Then I looked at the little girl and noticed she had Addison's green Crocs on!!!! What???? I turned right around to Molly and asked her what I should do. I leaned down to the little girl who couldn't have been much older than Harrison and said "I think you have my daughter's shoes on" in the sweetest voice. I suspected her mother didn't speak much English, but acted like she had no idea that the shoes weren't her daughter's. Now it wasn't like I had them spread all over the place, they were right by the front wheel of the stroller. If I hadn't been there at that exact time, that lady would have nicked my daughter's shoes. I didn't get upset with her, but we did move all of our stuff over to the fence were Molly and I took turns taking guard.

Butterfly Faces

At play group today, Juliet was doing face painting for the kids and this was the first time I had really let Addison have it done. She was so excited and she looked so cute with her little pink butterfly face.

Madeline and Emily met us at the Glinton park after playgroup for a play and picnic. We are planning to get together with them as much as we can, as they are due to move back to the US in just a few short weeks. These two little peas in a pod have been playing together since Addison was 10 months old and now look at the two of them!!!

On Our Own...

This week Kevin went on his first business trip and to all places - Peoria! I was a little hesitant at first to tackle the whole week and weekends on my own, but we did have a really good time. Since I had working pretty hard the week before, we devoted the whole time to going to parks, playing and picnicking.

Today we went to Ferry Meadows for a picnic and to feed the ducks. Both kids got completely freaked out by the flood of birds that darted towards them as we brought out the bread. So with two little kids screaming for their lives, I had to move us back to the picnic area. They were mad at me then because they wanted to feed the ducks but they were terrified of the things, so what do you do? Well, I bought ice cream...the cure all!!!

First Preschool Outing - Sacrewell Farms

Today Addison went on her very first preschool field trip and to one of her most favorite places - Sacrewell Farms. Not only was this quite an experience for her to go on the trip but it was real learning experience for me as well. The note came home for the trip just before we left for Scotland and from what I could gather they were asking for parents to volunteer to help out and sibling could attend, but there was limited space on the coach. I made the assumption that they would probably end up with enough volunteers that I wouldn't have to battle bringing Harrison. Well, with Harrison having the chicken pox the whole week between us getting back and the actual field trip I didn't get to visit with any of the other parents about it. On Monday morning I brought Addison to school and came to find that about 80% of the kids had a parent going with them. Because I wasn't going, Addison was going to have to stay with one of the teachers all day. As I left her with her little lunch and jacket, my stomach was in knots. I started pedaling on home with Harry and just started crying. I couldn't believe that I was so clueless and I was letting my baby be one of the only few kids go on this trip without a mommy!!! I raced home and packed up a lunch and threw Harry in the car and we drove off to the farm to meet them. I felt so silly walking into the group but I felt I had to make it right with Addie. Well, when I found where the teacher's group was down at the well, I waited until Addison came out and then I waved. The reaction I got next was shocking...the poor little thing look mortified that I was there. She instantly began to pout and stood there for a second and then looked back up at me and walked towards me to give me a hug. She obviously didn't want me there but in some way did. After feeling heartache about leaving her I now felt worse about not being there. After spilling my guts to Kevin later on in the day, he helped me realize that it was an independence thing and she was probably excited to get some special attention from her teacher, Ms Nicki. She was still bit stand offish with me throughout the day but enjoyed the fact that she could now play with her little friend's because I could now supervise her instead of the teachers.

Addison, Louisa, Robin and Harry checking out the piggies pen!

Lunch time

Feeding the ducks...Harrison is adding the feed to the water so the ducks can eat it.

Harrison helps Robyn feed the chickens.

Then he helps Kylie feed the rabbits. Being quite the ladies' man, he was using his charm to get Kylie to share some feed with him.

Addison and Kylie feed the ducklings together.

Addison and Kylie on the tractor ride that we took around the farm. We all ended up having a wonderful time at the farm and I'm really glad that I made the trip there even though she wasn't too happy I later showed up. To prove her final independence to me, she stated when it was time to go that she was riding on the coach with Ms. Nicki...."not you mommy." If she's this independent at 3, what is she going to be like at 13??? Gotta love her free spirit though, reminds me of myself.

Night Out with Friends

Tonight we went out to a dinner party fundraiser for the Peakirk/Glinton schools with our friends Simon and Sarah. I don't think we would be as English cultured without the two of them and I'm glad they get us involved in such neat things. The dinner was at the Golden Phesant Pub/Restaurant in Etton which is literally 2 miles away from our house as a crow flies. We got a three course meal that was absolutely fab and then we participated in a few fundraising activities. Simon was the emcee for the night and very charming. We did well with the raffle as I won a free spray tan and manicure and as I one that I got to another number which happened to be ours and won a bottle of red wine. After dinner, fundraising and plenty of wine they had a little dance afterwards. Kevin and I are still in amazement about dances over here. It seems that English and American tastes in "get you up to dance" songs are quite different. Where we would be out dancing it up to the Electric Slide, YMCA, and rock music...the Brits love ABBA and techno club music. It is just hilarious but we did have loads of fun dancing! We did sit back and reflect that it was neat to get to experience all of this because we just don't do things like this back in the States, except for at weddings and anniversary dinners....not just for fun. But maybe there are people who do, if not, it looks like we have a new tradition to start when we get back.

Simon and Sarah looking lovely as always. It wasn't supposed to be a black tie affair but one friend of ours said he was going to wear a tux then that spurred another, then another and then Simon decided to wear his as well. Kevin did not wear a tux...poor guy doesn't seem to own one like everyone else around here.

Sarah and me...it's so fun to get all dressed up!!!

Our new neighbor's Kev and Cheryl joined us as well along with Sarah's brother and sister in law and newer friends Juliet and Steve, so we had a big group at our table. Juliet is hilarious and I tried getting serious picture with her and she wouldn't keep a straight face. She is such a peach and I've really enjoyed getting to know her. She has two daughters and one of them is a month older than Addie and are friends at preschool together. Another great night out with great friends!

We Love French Toast!!!

Saturday mornings are so fun at our house because Daddy (aka Kevin) helps make a breakfast of either pancakes or French toast with the help of the kiddos. This morning we had French toast and boy, the kids are pretty competitive these days. Often getting in arguments about who gets to crack the eggs, who gets to dip the toast, who gets to flip the toast. The one they don't fight about is who gets to get out the plates and cutlery...mom usually gets stuck with that job and cleaning everything up. Harrison is very good about picking up his plate and bringing it over to be filled.

My mom used to used a pizza cutter to make bite sized pieces for me and my siblings so I do the same for my kids. They have lots of fun with it and Addison was very creative with eating her toast.

Harry's Chicken Pox

Here is Harrison with his full blown chicken pox. Poor guy!!! His back, tummy and head were the worst. He never broke out in a fever and was in good spirits most of the time, well, until at night when they started to heal and he probably itched horribly.

He looks pretty miserable but they were just everywhere.

His little head was spotted with them everywhere and I said he looked like a little leopard.